Computer housing

ABSTRACT

A computer housing includes: a housing body; a first supporting plate mounted in the housing body; a second supporting plate mounted in the housing body and cooperating with the first supporting plate to define a mounting space therebetween; and an operating lever pivoted to the second supporting plate, formed with an engaging tongue, and rotatable relative to the second supporting plate between a first angular position, in which the engaging tongue extends into the mounting space for retaining a box-like device in the mounting space, and a second angular position, in which the engaging tongue is disposed outside of the mounting space for permitting removal of the box-like device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a computer housing, more particularly to a computer housing including an operating lever for retaining releasably a box-like device in the computer housing.

2. Description of the Related Art

Data-storing or read/write devices are usually box-like in shape and are to be mounted in a computer housing. Threaded holes are formed in lateral sides of the devices for extension of fasteners therein so as to permit fastening of the devices to the computer housing.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a conventional computer housing 1 adapted for mounting at least one box-like device 2 that has lateral sides formed with a plurality of threaded holes 21 therein. The computer housing 1 includes a housing body 11, a first supporting plate 12 mounted to the housing body 11 and a second supporting plate 13 mounted to the housing body 11 and disposed opposite to the first supporting plate 12. The first supporting plate 12 is formed with a pair of resilient arms 122 punched and bent therefrom. Each of the resilient arms 122 is formed with a protrusion 123 that is adapted to be registered with a respective one of the threaded holes 21 in the box-like device 2 for engagement therebetween. The second supporting plate 13 is formed with a pair of through-holes 132, each of which is adapted to be registered with a respective one of the threaded holes 21 in the box-like device 2.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, to mount the box-like device 2 in the computer housing 1, the former is inserted into a space between the first and second supporting plates 12, 13 from a front opening of the computer housing 1. During the process of insertion, the resilient arms 122 will be pushed outwardly and accumulate an urging force so that when the threaded holes 21 in one of the lateral sides of the box-like device 2 are registered with the protrusions 123, the protrusions 123 are urged into the threaded holes 21. A pair of fasteners 14 are subsequently threaded into the threaded holes 21 in the other of the lateral sides of the box-like device 2 by extending through the through-holes 132 in the second supporting plate 13 so as to secure the box-like device 2 to the computer housing 1. However, securing of the box-like device 2 to the computer housing 1 using the fasteners 14 is relatively inconvenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a computer housing that can overcome the aforesaid drawback associated with the prior art.

Accordingly, a computer housing of this invention comprises: a housing body defining an inner space therein; a first supporting plate mounted in the inner space in the housing body; a second supporting plate mounted in the inner space in the housing body, parallel to the first supporting plate, and cooperating with the first supporting plate to define amounting space therebetween, the mounting space being adapted to receive a box-like device that is formed with an engaging hole, the second supporting plate being formed with first and second through-holes; and an operating lever having first and second end portions and a middle portion that extends between the first and second end portions and that is pivoted to the second supporting plate. The middle portion has opposite first and second ends. The first end portion extends and is bent from the first end of the middle portion. The first end of the middle portion is formed with an engaging tongue that extends into the first through-hole in the second supporting plate. The second end portion is bent and extends from the second end of the middle portion into the second through-hole in the second supporting plate. The operating lever is rotatable relative to the second supporting plate between a first angular position, in which the second end portion of the operating lever is disposed outside of the mounting space and in which the engaging tongue extends through the first through-hole in the second supporting plate and into the mounting space and is adapted to engage the engaging hole in the box-like device, thereby preventing removal of the box-like device from the computer housing, and a second angular position, in which the second end portion of the operating lever extends through the second through-hole in the second supporting plate and into the mounting space, and in which the engaging tongue is disposed outside of the mounting space and is disengaged from the engaging hole in the box-like device, thereby permitting removal of the box-like device from the computer housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional computer housing;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the conventional computer housing;

FIG. 3 is a schematic partly sectional top view of the conventional computer housing;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a computer housing according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a schematic partly sectional view illustrating a state where an operating lever of the preferred embodiment is disposed at a first angular position; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary partly sectional view illustrating another state where the operating lever of the preferred embodiment is disposed at a second angular position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 7, the preferred embodiment of a computer housing according to the present invention is shown to include: a housing body 4 defining an inner space 40 therein; a first supporting plate 5 mounted in the inner space 40 in the housing body 4; a second supporting plate 6 mounted in the inner space 40 in the housing body 4, parallel to the first supporting plate 5, and cooperating with the first supporting plate 5 to define a mounting space 80 therebetween, the mounting space 80 being adapted to receive a box-like device 3 that is formed with upper and lower engaging holes 31 in two lateral sides thereof, the second supporting plate 6 being formed with upper and lower first through-holes 64 and a second through-hole 63; and an operating lever 7 having first and second end portions 76, 78 and a middle portion 71 that extends between the first and second end portions 76, 78 and that is pivoted to the second supporting plate 6. The middle portion 71 of the operating lever 7 has opposite first and second ends 711, 712. The first end portion 76 extends and is bent from the first end 711 of the middle portion 71. The first end 711 of the middle portion 71 is formed with upper and lower engaging tongues 74 that extend respectively into the upper and lower first through-holes 64 in the second supporting plate 6. The second end portion 78 of the operating lever 7 is bent and extends from the second end 712 of the middle portion 71 into the second through-hole 63 in the second supporting plate 6. The operating lever 7 is rotatable relative to the second supporting plate 6 between a first angular position (see FIG. 6), in which the second end portion 78 of the operating lever 7 is disposed outside of the mounting space 80 and in which the upper and lower engaging tongues 74 extend respectively through the upper and lower first through-holes 64 in the second supporting plate 6 and into the mounting space 80 between the first and second supporting plates 5, 6 and engage respectively the upper and lower engaging holes 31 in the box-like device 3, thereby preventing removal of the box-like device 3 from the computer housing 4, and a second angular position (see FIG. 7), in which the second end portion 78 of the operating lever 7 extends through the second through-hole 63 in the second supporting plate 6 and into the mounting space 80 and in which the upper and lower engaging tongues 74 are disposed outside of the mounting space 80 and are disengaged from the upper and lower engaging holes 31 in the box-like device 3, thereby permitting removal of the box-like device 3 from the computer housing 4. The first and second end portions 76, 78 of the operating lever 7 are bent from the middle portion 71 of the operating lever 7 in opposite directions.

In this embodiment, the second supporting plate 6 has an inner surface 611 facing toward the first supporting plate 5, and an outer surface 612 opposite to the inner surface 611. The second supporting plate 6 is formed with a pair of C-shaped protrusions 621 projecting from the outer surface 612 and each defining a retaining recess 622. The middle portion 71 of the operating lever 7 is formed with a pair of pivot pins 721 that are respectively retained in the retaining recesses 622 in the C-shaped protrusions 621 so as to permit pivoting of the operating lever 7 to the second supporting plate 6.

The middle portion 71 of the operating lever 7 is further formed with a spring arm 75 that protrudes therefrom to abut resiliently against the outer, surface 612 of the second supporting plate 6 for urging the operating lever 7 to move from the first angular position toward the second angular position.

The first supporting plate 5 is formed with a pair of resilient arms 52 having protrusions 53 protruding therefrom into the mounting space 80 between the first and second supporting plates 5, 6 for urging the box-like device 3 toward the second supporting plate 6. The protrusions 53 are respectively registered with and protrude into the upper and lower engaging holes 31 in the box-like device 3 when the box-like device 3 is positioned in the mounting space 80. It should be noted herein that the resilient arms 52 and the protrusions 53 of the first supporting plate 5 are formed by punching techniques.

To mount the box-like device 3 in the computer housing, the box-like device 3 is moved into the mounting space 80 between the first and second supporting plates 5, 6 from a front opening of the housing body 4. During the process of insertion, the resilient arms 52 of the first supporting plate 5 will be pushed outwardly and accumulate an urging force so that when the upper and lower engaging holes 31 in one of the lateral sides of the box-like device 3 are registered with the protrusions 53, the urging force of the resilient arms 52 will urge the protrusions 53 to move into the upper and lower engaging holes 31. In the meantime, the second end portion 78 of the operating lever 7 will be pushed outwardly of the mounting space 80 such that the operating lever 7 pivots about the pivot pins 72 to drive the upper and lower engaging tongues 74 through the upper and lower first through-holes 64 in the second supporting plate 6 to engage the upper and lower engaging holes 31 so as to secure the box-like device 3 to the computer housing.

When the box-like device 3 is to be removed from the computer housing, the first end portion 76 of the operating lever 7 is pulled in a direction away from the second supporting plate 6 so as to disengage the upper and lower engaging tongues 74 from the upper and lower engaging holes 31, thereby permitting removal of the box-like device 3 from the computer housing. Note that the spring arm 75 of the operating lever 7, which abuts against the second supporting plate 6, will accumulate a restoring force when the box-like device 3 is mounted between the first and second supporting plates 5, 6. Hence, when the box-like device 3 is removed from the computer housing, the restoring force of the spring arm 75 will restore the operating lever 7 from the first angular position to the second angular position.

With the inclusion of the operating lever 7 in the computer housing of this invention, the fasteners required for securing the box-like device to the conventional computer housing are dispensed with such that the aforesaid drawback associated with the prior art can be eliminated.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. A computer housing comprising: a housing body defining an inner space therein; a first supporting plate mounted in said inner space in said housing body; a second supporting plate mounted in said inner space in said housing body, parallel to said first supporting plate, and cooperating with said first supporting plate to define a mounting space therebetween, said mounting space being adapted to receive a box-like device that is formed with an engaging hole, said second supporting plate being formed with first and second through-holes; and an operating lever having first and second end portions and a middle portion that extends between said first and second end portions and that is pivoted to said second supporting plate, said middle portion having opposite first and second ends, said first end portion extending and being bent from said first end of said middle portion, said first end of said middle portion being formed with an engaging tongue that extends into said first through-hole in said second supporting plate, said second end portion being bent and extending from said second end of said middle portion into said second through-hole in said second supporting plate, said operating lever being rotatable relative to said second supporting plate between a first angular position, in which said second end portion is disposed outside of said mounting space and in which said engaging tongue extends through said first through-hole in said second supporting plate and into said mounting space and is adapted to engage the engaging hole in the box-like device, thereby preventing removal of the box-like device from said computer housing, and a second angular position, in which said second end portion of said operating lever extends through said second through-hole in said second supporting plate and into said mounting space and in which said engaging tongue is disposed outside of said mounting space and is disengaged from the engaging hole in the box-like device, thereby permitting removal of the box-like device from said computer housing.
 2. The computer housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second supporting plate has an inner surface facing toward said first supporting plate, and an outer surface opposite to said inner surface, said second supporting plate being formed with a C-shaped protrusion projecting from said outer surface and defining a retaining recess, said middle portion of said operating lever being formed with a pivot pin that is retained in said retaining recess so as to permit pivoting of said operating lever to said second supporting plate.
 3. The computer housing as claimed in claim 2, wherein said middle portion of said operating lever is further formed with a spring arm that protrudes therefrom to abut resiliently against said outer surface of said second supporting plate.
 4. The computer housing as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first supporting plate is formed with a pair of resilient arms having protrusions protruding therefrom into said mounting space between said first and second supporting plates and adapted to urge the box-like device toward said second supporting plate.
 5. The computer housing as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first and second end portions of said operating lever are bent from said middle portion of said operating lever in opposite directions. 